Hydra under a microscope

[JuiceBox52]

Currently dealing with a green hydra outbreak, so I decided to pull out my microscope and take a look

 

[Back in the fold]

It was a year ago now that I had my hydra outbreak and I haven’t seen any in many months now . They came in on plants and it took a couple months for them to die out . I didn’t use any chemicals on them . I was feeding a lot of newly hatched baby brine shrimp then for my guppy fry and when I stopped that they starved out . I did use a heavy salt treatment on them and that sort of worked but they still hung on . @Innesfan recommended Blue Gourami’s which are a great devourer of hydra and I think that’s good advice . I’ve heard of green hydra but your pictures are the first I’ve ever seen .

 

[Essjay]

I remember Hydra viridis from biology lessons at school, half a century ago. The green is caused by a symbiotic alga.

I've only had white hydra in my tanks.

 

[JuiceBox52]

It was a year ago now that I had my hydra outbreak and I haven’t seen any in many months now . They came in on plants and it took a couple months for them to die out . I didn’t use any chemicals on them . I was feeding a lot of newly hatched baby brine shrimp then for my guppy fry and when I stopped that they starved out . I did use a heavy salt treatment on them and that sort of worked but they still hung on . @Innesfan recommended Blue Gourami’s which are a great devourer of hydra and I think that’s good advice . I’ve heard of green hydra but your pictures are the first I’ve ever seen .

They’re fascinating to me! I would just leave them if it wasn’t the tank I would like to have betta fry in, but I think their population should hopefully die out after the tank stabilizes a bit more since it’s new.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I always thought the way o fioght HYDRA is to send for Captain America. So, maybe American flagfish would help? At least they like to eat algae?

Here is what the Google AI said about this when I asked, "will american flagfish eat green hydra"

AI Overview

Yes, based on multiple aquarium hobbyist reports, American flagfish (Jordanella floridae) will readily eat green hydra.
They are known for their voracious appetite for various aquarium pests and algae, and many aquarists have found them effective at eliminating hydra infestations.

American flagfish are omnivores that naturally feed on small aquatic creatures, insect larvae, and plant matter in the wild. This diet makes hydra a natural food source for them in an aquarium setting.

Key Points on Using Flagfish for Hydra Control:

• Effective Predators: Several accounts state that a small group of flagfish can eliminate a widespread hydra population in an aquarium within a short time (e.g., a week).
• Algae Eaters: In addition to hydra, they are well known for eating tough algae types like green hair algae and black beard algae, making them a useful addition to a planted tank for pest control.
• Considerations: While effective, flagfish can be semi-aggressive, especially males, and may nip at the fins of slow-moving or long-finned tankmates. They may also nibble on softer aquarium plants if sufficient algae and other food sources are not available. They are best kept in a school with a single male, or in a tank where potential aggression is managed through adequate space and cover.

Other fish that have been reported to eat hydra include gouramis, mollies, and platies. A common chemical treatment that is considered safe for most fish and shrimp (but not all snails) is a product containing betel nut extract, often sold under the brand name No Planaria.